Bebe Moore Campbell was an accomplished author, advocate, co-founder of NAMI Urban Los Angeles and national spokesperson. She spoke out to eradicate stigma and advocated the importance of bringing mental health education to communities of color. In November 2006, Campbelllost her battle with brain cancer, but friends and family advocated on her behalf and contin ued the dream of raising mental health awareness, and in July 2008,Campbell’s vision was brought to life. Full article...

Evidence-Based Practices and Multicultural Mental Health

The mental health system has been moving toward adoption and implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs), not only to reduce variability in treatment and improve quality of care, but also to meet increased accountability requirements and deal with tightened federal and state budgets. This presents a new challenge to multicultural mental health since the needs and cultural preferences of diverse communities have not been fully incorporated into these practices.

In tandem with a NAMI 2008 Convention symposium covering this topic, the MulticulturalActionCenter has made available a new resource that examines EBPs, practice-based evidence, and the opportunities and challenges they present to achieve quality multicultural mental health treatment. Click here to access NAMI’s new resource, Evidence-Based Practices and Multicultural Mental Health.

Cultural and Linguistic Competence Coordinators Network

The MulticulturalActionCenter has teamed up with the NationalTechnicalAssistanceCenter for Children’s Mental Health and the NationalCenter for Cultural Competence at GeorgetownUniversityCenter for Child and Human Development to create the Cultural and Linguistic Competence (CLC) Coordinators Network. The goal of the CLC Coordinators Network is to enhance the capacity of individuals serving as cultural and linguistic competence coordinators in their mental health system. It will provide information and resources, link to national and federal cultural and linguistic competence activities and resources, serve as a sounding board for solution finding, and expand a network of allies and partners to promote system transformation. Full article...

NAMI 2008 Convention Recap

The NAMI Annual Convention took place June 13–16 in Orlando, Florida. The MulticulturalActionCenter was proud to host a well-received series of workshops and sessions focusing on new research and initiatives addressing the needs of our diverse grassroots. Presentations covered a range of topics, including multicultural outreach, GLBT mental health issues, evidence based practices in multicultural contexts, and NAMI’s African American Faith-Based Initiative. Click here to access session and speaker information, including downloadable presentations and handouts.

Resource

NAMI’s Crisis Intervention Team Advocacy Toolkit

NAMI's Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)AdvocacyCenteris pleased to introduce its newCIT Advocacy Toolkit,which is designed to help NAMI state organizations and affiliates, law enforcement agencies, and mental health providers advocate for CIT in theircommunities. The construction of this toolkit is ongoing; as we develop new materials, we will post them towww.nami.org/cittoolkit and we'll let you know about them inCIT in Action, our monthly e-newsletter. Contact Laura Usher, NAMI CIT Coordinator, atlaurau@nami.orgwith comments or questions.

Announcement

Hogg Foundation for Mental Health Names New Executive Director

Dr. Octavio N. Martinez Jr., a professor and clinical psychiatrist with experience in finance and banking, has been appointed executive director of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health at The University of Texas atAustin. Clickherefor more information.

Upcoming Events

Latino Behavioral Health Institute 14th Annual Latino Conference

The Latino Behavioral Health Institute 14thAnnual Latino Conference,“Addressing Latino Behavioral Health Requirements in the Workforce, Prevention and Early Intervention,” will take place September 16-18 at the Los Angeles Airport Marriot. This informative and enjoyable conference will focus onaddressing Latino workforce development, and prevention and intervention in Latino behavioral health, exploring various issues Latinos deal with throughout the lifespan. Visitwww.lbhi.orgfor more information.

Save the Date: National Crisis Intervention Team Conference, November 4-6, Atlanta

The Georgia Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) will host the 2008 National CIT Conference November 4-6 in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference welcomes CIT officers, criminal justice professionals, mental health consumers and their family members, mental health providers, and others interested in combating the criminalization of mental illness. Clickherefor more information and to register online. Visitwww.nami.org/citfor information on NAMI’s scholarship opportunity.

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